Some call it stories. Others call it a blog. But here you'll find nuggets of goodness to use and -- you guessed it -- SHARE!

Reading sets the foundation for almost everything we do in life and we can all remember the first books we truly loved. To celebrate early readers everywhere, we asked Charlotteans what their favorite childhood books were. Here are the answers:

"I love the repetition, the simple language, the silliness of who the baby bird thinks his mom might be, the cuteness of baby bird, his innocence, and the sweet ending. It makes for very wonderful cuddling and reading with a little one. It's also very easy to translate! I used to read it to my son in Spanish even though the book was in English!”

HomerCharlotte Knights Mascot
“Dragons Love Tacos” by Adam Rubin"I loved Harry the Dirty Dog because he was mischievous and ran from his bath and home. After a long day of getting dirty, he really wanted to come back! I love running free and I love coming home!"

“I loved all of the Beverly Cleary books, especially the adventures of Ralph S. Mouse.”

Greg Jarrell
Co-Director, QC Family Tree
“Ralph S. Mouse" by Beverly Cleary"I remember my teacher reading this book to our entire class and I loved the story so much I just wanted to go and read the book by myself and I read the entire five-book series.”

“As a child, I think most of us allowed our imaginations to take over when reading a good book. My childhood was pretty rough at times and I remember I would cozy-up with a blanket, dive into one chapter after the next, and pretend I was Matilda. It was comforting being able to escape from the real world and just pretend things weren't as they seemed. Matilda was relatable at a time in my life where I felt alone. Books can do that for kids -- I was a great example of that.”

Skye Jaundoo
Operations Manager & Project Manager, SecurEdge Networks and General Manager, The Launch Factory
“Matilda” by Roald Dahl"This is my favorite book of all time because my mom would put me on her lap and she would open the book and picture by picture, story by story she would tell me about these characters and they all saw each other, which is pretty cool, especially now as an adult. But my mom reading it to me, and me picturing the animals using my imagination, as a kid was probably the best thing I could have experienced."

Toussaint Romain
Attorney, Mecklenburg County Public Defender's Office
"Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See" by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle

“I loved this book as a kid … my mom always gave me a cookie before reading it to me. Now, decades later, I still think of those moments whenever I eat a cookie. It's amazing how memories can be triggered and treasured, even for a brief moment."

Caroline Miller
Marketing Associate, SHARE Charlotte
“If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" by Laura Numeroff“I was a shy, reserved little girl so this beloved story of a spunky young girl and her hilarious escapades resonated with me. I loved Pippi Longstocking's sense of humor, adventure, and sheer strength. Pippi was always involved in some type of funny prank. She was quirky, independent, and most importantly a kind little girl. This book allowed me to find my voice and see those same qualities in myself. My favorite Pippi quote, ‘Pippi doesn’t live by anyone’s rules but her own, and she’s perfectly fine with being a little different."

Sharon Harrington
Executive Director, Reading Partners Charlotte
“Pippi Longstocking" by Astrid Lindgren“This book first sparked my love for poetry. It was my first experience understanding the artistry of writing and truly made me enjoy reading and writing. Writing poetry quickly became an outlet for me and ultimately fueled my desire to start a blog!”

Kendall Bruton
Charlotte Hornets Dancer & Motivational Blogger
"Where the Sidewalk Ends" by Shel Silverstein“At Augustin Literacy Project (ALP), we had a tough time choosing just one book! Here are some of our favorite books for kids, displayed by a few of our ALP tutors and staff. Our motto is ‘Tutor One Child...Change Two Lives."

Jeff Jackson
North Carolina State Senator
“Yertle the Turtle" by Dr. Seuss"Maria Elena Walsh was an Argentinian poet and like most of my friends, I read her books and sang her songs through my entire childhood. But when I was about 14 years old, I learned that with her lyrics she was actually protesting social injustices and denouncing political leaders. By her example I learned to always speak up, and I continue to be inspired by her courage. ”In the Kingdom of Upside Down, birds swim and fish fly [...] In the Kingdom of Upside Down, a thief is a policeman, and another one is a judge.”

Sil Ganzo
Executive Director, OurBRIDGE for KIDS
“El Reino del Revés” by Maria Elena Walsh“If there's any book character I relate to the most, it's Curious George! As a kid I spent hours climbing trees and running around living with a sense of wonder and curiosity, sometimes getting into trouble! Every day was and still IS an adventure! I just try to get into less trouble than I used to!”

Jason Harper
Co-Host, FOX46's Good Day Charlotte
“Curious George” by Margret Rey and H. A. Rey"I love this book because it's about making the best out of a difficult situation and creating your own little paradise … and because my big brother gave it to me.”

Ashley Clark
Director of Outreach and Strategic Partnerships, UNCC Urban Institute
“Moe the Dog” by Diane Stanley"Shel's poems were easy to read, but take on new meaning as you grow … silly to start, but educational and inspiring as an adult!”

Corri Smith
Owner, Black Wednesday
“Falling Up” by Shel Silverstein"#TBH, Dad and Mom both agreed that my favorite book was ‘Where's Waldo,’ but I told them this was for a campaign encouraging literacy and we settled on a Corduroy title — I've always loved these books because they show the power of friendship in overcoming an obstacle or challenge.”

David Jessup, Jr.
Founder, Digi-Bridge
“A Pocket for Corduroy” by Don Freeman"I love this book because as a little girl I was certain my "real" family was royalty and I kept waiting for them to come get me ... I'm still waiting!"

Colleen Brannan
Owner and President, BRANSTORM PR
“Are You My Mother” by P.D. Eastman"That’s the original copy my dad used to read to me. I loved the story because of the wonderful artwork and how the bear scared himself at the end of the story. It was such a surprise! But the best thing I loved about the story was the way my dad read it to me. He would use a different voice for the bear … and I always thought if bears could ever talk, they would sound just like my dad! I try to make the story as fun to hear nowadays when I go to schools and read the book to students.”

John Carter
Co-Anchor, WBTV News' This Morning
“The Large and Growly Bear” by Gertrude Cramptom"For me, Dr. Seuss was a huge part of my childhood. As a little girl, I read ‘ABC’ with my mom all the time. The pages were so colorful and sounding out the words were so much fun! Dr. Suess' work was a great resource for me growing up as well. He made reading a magical adventure! And with the turn of every page was a colorful journey!”

Ohavia Phillips
Charlotte Media Personality
“ABC” by Dr. Seuss"I love this book because it is a story about giving from your heart and reminds us that when we work together anything is possible."

Mary Nell McPherson
Executive Director, Freedom School Partners
“Nobiah's Well” by Donna W. Guthrie“As a small child I loved this book because I couldn't wait to be old enough to explore the big, exciting world and I could apparently wear my pajamas and a cool matching hat everywhere I went! As I get older I could better appreciate the theme of the necessity of positive thinking as we journey through life's ups and downs - a lesson I try to take with me no matter where my path leads.”

Amy Jacobs
Executive Director, SHARE Charlotte
“Oh, the Places You'll Go” by Dr Seuss"#MamaMack used to read this book to me every night when I was a little girl. Over and over - until I started reading it to her. And, to this day I often say to her, "Are you my Mother?" It's one our (many) inside jokes. More importantly, seeing it always takes me back to my childhood, reminds of how my Mama instilled the importance of reading early on and when my love affair with the magic of books and reading began.

Brigida Mack
Anchor, WBTV News
“Are You My Mother” by P.D. Eastman

In March, SHARE Charlotte’s Spotlight Series focuses on local organizations working to improve literacy and school readiness in Charlotte. There are organizations that do everything from provide free books, to reading support to free preschool. See who they are and find ways to help. Follow the conversation on social media: #CLTLovesToRead

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We have so much great news to share from our nonprofit partners about their amazing work. But, we'd love to hear from you. Let us know if you have stories you'd like to tell and we'll make you a guest blogger!!